Fishing Report 3/25/2020

A word from Rick and Lucy:  

As I write this I pray all of you who are reading it, and your family members, are healthy. We at Weavers care deeply for each and everyone of you who read this report. We feel honored and blessed to have made so many friends in the past ten years at Bennett.
I know this social distancing can make us crazy, but it is the ONLY way we are going to beat this thing. I also know the need to get out of the house, because it makes you stir crazy. It does us. Lucy and I walk daily here in North Carolina but we are extremely cautious to maintain our distance from other walkers. I say this because I understand the need for some of you to still come to Bennett to escape the crazy that is going on in this world right now. I ask every single one of you, if you feel the least bit ill, please, for your sake as well as the sake of your fellow anglers, PLEASE stay home till you are well. If you do come, please maintain that ten foot barrier between you and ALL others. Do not share lures, do not share rods, do not share food, or anything else. We can beat this thing together, but it takes a commitment from everyone! The stronger the commitment, the sooner we get back to normal and to the Bennett we all know and Love......

God bless you all, Rick and Lucy

How's Fishing?

Fishing has been good.   The stream is up with chocolate milk clarity.  Please be careful when wading in these water conditions. A wading staff and a wading belt are good to have handy.  The current is fast and when you are unable to see your feet it makes wading more treacherous. 

 As we have talked about before the trout are under stress in flood situations.  The trout will hold in the slower moving areas of the stream.  This includes seams, in between the wing dams, and along the edges.  No trout treadmills, it is too exhausting for the trout to stay in the tumultuous current.

   Sinking line, sinking leaders, and sink tip line with wooly buggers, megaworms, mopflies, or mini jigs are good choices for your flyrods.  Spinning/spincast rods marabou, Powerbait with glitter, and Roostertails have all been reported as working well.   

 Weekly Weaver's Crew excerpt:

The D-Cup Tournament (unofficial family "tournament") is quickly approaching and we look forward to seeing this group of characters that carry on this tradition every Spring!   This specific group of gentlemen will be making their annual trek to Bennett the first weekend in April.  They are fun, respectful, and an all around great bunch of anglers.  I bring this up, because a recent visitor to Weaver's, we will call him "Shoeless with trout print socks Joe," reminded me that Bennett Spring State Park is a very special place.  He said it was a family oriented theme park where traditionalists gather.  I know this to be true, because I am one of them.  He also talked about how he thought it was great how we had silly names for flies, lures, and bait.  He then asked if I had any Smoked Monkey Trout Giblets, Snot Rockets, or Cinder Block Gray Marabou. (We do not have these!  Ha!  Ha!) See you on the stream! 

Of Interest~Public Notice:

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation Commission announce they are temporarily waiving permit requirements for sport fishing and daily trout tags for Missouri residents and nonresidents whose fishing privileges are not otherwise suspended.

The waiver of needing a permit or trout tag to fish will run from Friday, March 27, through April 15. MDC will reassess the situation at that point. All season dates, methods, and limits will continue to apply and be enforced.

“The current public-health emergency caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) has many Missourians and others looking for safe ways to get outside in nature,” said MDC Director Sara Parker Pauley. “Missouri’s rivers and streams offer high quality fishing as a way for people to connect with nature while still complying with all health and safety recommendations. Fishing is also a great way to get some much needed physical and mental health benefits during this stressful time.”

Conservation makes Missouri a great place to fish and Missouri has more than a million acres of surface water with most of it providing great fishing. More than 200 different fish species are found in Missouri, with more than 20 of them being game fish for the state's more than 1.1 million anglers. Get more info on Missouri fishing at huntfish.mdc.mo.gov/fishing

Pauley added that it is still critical for everyone to continue to heed all recommendations for hand washing, social distancing, and other public-health measures while fishing and during other outdoor activities, including maintaining at least six feet of distance between all individuals who are not family members.

COVID-19 CLOSURES AND CANCELLATIONS
The James Foundation announced it has closed Maramec Spring Park in St. James to the public for trout fishing and all other activities until further notice. Maramec Spring Park is owned and operated by the James Foundation. MDC manages the trout hatchery at Maramec Spring Park. For more information, visit maramecspringpark.com.

Missouri’s three other public trout parks remain open for day use and fishing: Bennett Spring State Park in Lebanon, Montauk State Park near Licking, and Roaring River State Park near Cassville. They are operated by Missouri State Parks under the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR). MDC manages the trout hatcheries at these locations.

To reduce possible increased social congregation, MDC will suspend daily trout stocking at all trout parks starting Friday and has suspended other fish stocking in waters around the state until further notice.

According to DNR, Missouri State Parks remain open. However, in reaction to COVID-19 and out of an abundance of caution, Missouri State Parks will temporarily close all campgrounds and lodging effective Friday, March 27, through Thursday, April 30. This includes campgrounds, park-run lodging and concessionaire-run lodging. While they are not able to accommodate overnight guests, Missouri State Parks remain open to the public for day-use, including boat ramps and more than 1,100 miles of trails.

“We are taking these measures now to reduce the impact of COVID-19,” said Missouri State Parks Director Mike Sutherland. “The outdoors provide a great opportunity to relax and destress. Even outdoors, it is important to practice social distancing, avoid large gatherings and wash your hands often.”

MDC and DNR remind people to make outdoor activities as safe and enjoyable as possible by taking the following actions:

If you have been sick in the last two weeks, please stay home for your health and the safety of others.
Travel in a small group with a maximum of 10 people.
Avoid popular areas where people may congregate, such as scenic overlooks, buildings, playgrounds, etc.
Maintain at least a six-foot distance between you and others.Pack water, soap and/or hand sanitizer.Get more information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on best practices for keeping you and your family safe at cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.
MDC has closed its regional offices, Department headquarters in Jefferson City, and other public contact offices, nature centers, visitor centers, educational centers, and staffed shooting ranges to the public until April 15.

While MDC public offices will be closed to general visitation, offices will still be staffed. Visitors with official business will need to notify the office to gain access. Find MDC office contact information at mdc.mo.gov/regional-contacts?county=All.

MDC has also cancelled its public events and programs around the state until April 15, including hunter education classes, nature center programs and events, shooting range programs and events, and landowner workshops. MDC will reassess the situation at that point.

Conservation areas, nature center trails, unstaffed shooting ranges, and boat accesses remain open to the public. Hunting, fishing, and trapping seasons continue as scheduled. MDC managed hunts and mentored spring turkey hunts continue as planned.

For more information on MDC, to contact MDC offices, to buy permits, and more, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov.

NATURE CENTER

Missouri State Parks postpones special events and programs and temporarily suspends planned guided group or school tours now through April 30

Out of caution, Missouri state park and historic site programs and events sponsored by Missouri State Parks are postponed or canceled now through April 30. In addition, planned guided group or school tours, including tours of the Missouri state Capitol, are temporarily suspended now through April 30 in order to avoid large congregations of people in confined areas.

The team is closely monitoring the progression of COVID-19 and its effect in Missouri. While safety, stewardship and service are all very important to Missouri State Parks, safety is the top priority.

Missouri State Park visitor centers, campgrounds and lodging will remain open as we closely monitor COVID-19 and its presence in the state. We encourage all Missourians and park visitors to review information provided by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services as it relates to the virus.

Missouri State Parks is committed to the safety of park guests, volunteers and staff. If you have any questions regarding Missouri State Parks events or programs, please contact us at moparks@dnr.mo.gov.

Water Conditions

Bennett Spring

March 25, 2020
Gage house level is 3.26 feet
Daily Discharge levels:
All discharge numbers are in Cubic Feet per Second
minimum was 89.0 in 1936
25th percentile is 130
Current level is 580
Median is 176
Mean is 222
75th percentile is 282
Max was 674 in 1978

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=06923500




Niangua River

March 25, 2020
Gage House reading (water level) is 5.24 feet.
Discharge levels in cubic feet per second:
Minimum was 44.0 in 1996
25th percentile is 153
Median is 286
Today's reading is 1990
75th percentile is 543
Mean is 459
record high max was 1660 in 2010

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=06923250

What's Working?

From the Fly Case

Renegades
Silver Holographic Cracklebacks
Green Cracklebacks
Copper JohnsPrince Nymphs
Red or White San Juan Worms or Bloodworm Squirmy Wormies
Wooly Buggers-olive, brown, black
Harvester Midges- olive, red, brown
Bennett Blue Cracklebacks
Copper Hot Shots
RGN's-golden olive, brown size 14




Zone 1 or 2

Mopflies- cream, pink, white, orange
Megaworms-pink and white, red, white
Bedspread jig
Brown Roaches
Peacock Jigs
Bumblebee mini jigs
John DeereJohn Deere with a yellowtail
Angry John Deere
White grub mini jigs
White thread jigs
Peach Fur Bugs
Jimi Hendrix Glo-Balls
White Glo-ballsWhite Glo-balls with a red dot
Marabou - black and yellow, moss, ginger, gingersnap, red and yellow, yellow, yellow and white, Crawdad tricolor-(orange, brown, and green), black and white, black, Shell and white, white, Tequila Sunrise (orange and yellow), orange
Rooster Tails -   Copper Tinsel Brown Trout, Metallic Gold Spot, Strobe White, Glitter Brown, Skunk, Copper Tinsel Glitter White, Metallic Silver Blue Pirate, Yellow Roostertail 



Zone 3

Lucky Lady worms-pink, white, orange and white, red and white, black and yellow, pink
Bumblebee Powerbait
Marshmallow White Powerbait
Salmon Peach with or without glitter Powerbait
Cheese Powerbait
Yellow Glitter Powerbait
Fluoroscent Orange Powerbait
Fluorescent Red Powerbait
Chartreuse Powerbait
Grape Nymph Powerbait
Garlic Powerbait
Powerbait Power Eggs orange with scales, or chartreuse
Orange Peel Power Worms
Minnows
Bentley's Secret Bait Original and Garlic
Worms

Weather Forecast

Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Southeast wind 6 to 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 22 mph.

Friday: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a high near 76. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Saturday: A 50 percent chance of showers before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 72.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 62.

Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.

Tuesday: A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.

Windyville MO
 37.72°N 92.92°W (Elev. 1024 ft)

Lunker Club

3/17/2020

Carter Bartig from Old Monroe, MO 3 pounds in zone 1 on a peach and white marabou

3/20/2020

Tricia Adams from Independence, MO 3 pounds in zone 3 on Zeke's orange garlic doughbait

Pete Maubach from Falcon, MO 3 pounds in zone 3 on a nightcrawler

3/21/2020

Aidan Epperson from New London, MO 2 pounds in zone 2 on an egg colored Glo-ball

3/25/2020

Mary Taylor from Arnold, MO 2 1/4 pounds in zone 1 on a black stonefly with a spinner


Calendar of Events

Weed Cutting April 7-8

There will be monthly Mayfly Project fly tying nights in the Bennett Spring Church of God Annex, located across from the park office. Supplies and instruction on tying a basic fishing fly will be given. This activity will allow people to enjoy the art of fly tying and learn from experienced Bennett Spring fishermen and women.

All supplies will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own. A $5 donation for the "Fly of the Night" supplies is suggested. Donations will go to provide supplies and support for Kid's Free Fishing Day. Everyone's first six flies will be donated to The Mayfly Project, which mentors foster children through fly fishing.

This event is sponsored by Missouri State Parks, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Mayfly Project. More information is available at http://www.themayflyproject.com .

Additional Mayfly Project program dates:
May 1, June 12, July 10, July 31, Sept. 4, Oct. 2
PROGRAM TIME: 6 P.M. - 9 P.M.
26250 Hwy 64A, Lebanon, MO | (417) 532-4338


Kids Free Fishing Day~ Saturday May 2, 2020 Bennett Spring State Park~6:30 A.M.-8:15 P.M.


Weed Cutting May 19-20


FREE FISHING FOR ALL~Saturday June 6th and Sunday June 7th, 2020
BENNETT SPRING STATE PARK LEBANON, MO
Bennett Spring State Park welcomes the public to fish for trout for free. Fishing licenses are not required in the state of Missouri during this weekend. Daily trout tags and fishing licenses are not required for individuals fishing at Bennett Spring State Park. Free trout tags can be obtained at the park store. All other wildlife game regulations apply.


Weed Cutting June 23-24


Veterans Fishing Day~ Saturday July 21, 2020  Bennett Spring State Park~0630-2030


Weed Cutting August 4-5


Weed Cutting September 15-16


For additional information or questions please contact the Nature Center at 417-532-3925.

There is a list at https://mostateparks.com/events/park/bennett-spring-state-park that gives all the details of other activities, such as hikes that are going on at Bennett Spring State Park through out the year.

FISHING HOURS
 
 
BEGIN
END

March
7:30 A.M.  CDT
7:00 P.M.  CDT

April
7:00 A.M.
7:30 P.M.

May
6:30 A.M.
8:15 P.M.

June
6:30 A.M.
8:30 P.M.

July
6:30 A.M.
8:30 P.M.

August
7:00 A.M.
8:00 P.M.

September
7:30 A.M.
7:15 P.M.

October
7:30 A.M.
6:30 P.M.

Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

Quote of the Week

Fishing does not build character. It reveals it.

Author:

Wyse Ortha

Thanks for reading,

Devin